Pantoprazole reduces stomach acid, stops heartburn, and heals ulcers. Pantoprazole may work better if taken on an empty stomach.

Pantoprazole Overview

Reviewed: October 2, 2012

Updated: December 15, 2014

Pantoprazole is a prescription medication used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. Pantoprazole belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. These work by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.

This medication comes in a delayed release tablet and oral (by mouth) suspension form. It is usually taken once or twice daily, with or without food.

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of pantoprazole include headache, diarrhea, and nausea.

Side Effects of Pantoprazole

Serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you get any of the following symptoms with pantoprazole

rash

face swelling

throat tightness

difficult breathing

Your doctor may stop pantoprazole if these symptoms happen.

The most common side effects with pantoprazole in adults include:

Headache

Diarrhea

Nausea

Stomach pain

Vomiting

Gas

Dizziness

Pain in your joints

The most common side effects with pantoprazole in children include:

Upper respiratory infection

Headache

Fever

Diarrhea

Vomiting

Rash

Stomach pain

People who are taking multiple daily doses of proton pump inhibitor medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist or spine.

Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects with pantoprazole. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pantoprazole Interactions

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. Pantoprazole may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how pantoprazole works. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Pantoprazole Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Pantoprazole there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Pantoprazole.

Pantoprazole and Pregnancy

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Pantoprazole falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with pantoprazole. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Pantoprazole and Lactation

Pantoprazole has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from pantoprazole, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Pantoprazole Usage

Do not change your dose or stop pantoprazole without talking to your doctor.

If you forget to take a dose of pantoprazole, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses to try to make up for a missed dose.

Tablets:

You can take pantoprazole tablets with food or on an empty stomach.

Swallow pantoprazole tablets whole.

If you have trouble swallowing a pantoprazole 40 mg tablet, you can take two 20 mg tablets instead.

Do not split, chew, or crush pantoprazole sodium tablets.

Oral Suspension:

Pantoprazole oral suspension should only be taken with applesauce or apple juice 30 minutes before a meal.

Pantoprazole should not be taken in or with water or other liquids, or with other foods other than those described below.

Pantoprazole oral suspension should not be chewed or crushed.

Pantoprazole oral suspension packet should not be divided to make a smaller dose.

Directions for use with applesauce:

Open packet.

Sprinkle granules on one teaspoonful of applesauce. Do not use any other foods. Do not crush or chew the granules.

Take within 10 minutes of putting the granules into the teaspoon of applesauce.

Take sips of water to make sure the granules are washed down into the stomach. Repeat water sips as necessary.

Directions for use with apple juice:

Open packet.

Empty granules into a small cup or teaspoon with one teaspoonful of apple juice.

Stir the mix for 5 seconds (granules will not break up) and swallow it right away.

To make sure that the entire dose is taken, rinse the container once or twice with apple juice to get out any leftover granules. Swallow the apple juice right away.

Nasogastric Tube or Gastrostomy Tube Administration

For people who have a nasogastric (NG) tube or gastrostomy tube in place, pantoprazole oral suspension can be given as follows:

Remove the plunger from the barrel of a 2 ounce (60 mL) catheter-tip syringe. Throw away the plunger.

Connect the catheter tip of the syringe to a 16 French (or larger) tube.

Hold the syringe attached to the tubing as high as possible while giving pantoprazole oral suspension to prevent any bending of the tubing.

Empty the contents of the packet into the barrel of the syringe.

Add 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of apple juice and gently tap or shake the barrel of the syringe to help empty the syringe.

Do this again at least two more times using the same amount of apple juice (10 mL or 2 teaspoonfuls) each time. No granules should be left in the syringe.

Injection:

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.